THE RIVER COMMISSION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1861, 6 August 1918, Page 3

THE RIVER COMMISSION.

REPORT REGARDING INQUIRY. COMMISSIONERS’ RECOMMENDATIONS. The report of the commission appointed to enquire into the control of the Manawatu River, and the question of abolishing or otherwise of the Palmerston North-Kairanga River Board, has now been mado public. The Commission consisted of Messrs W. 0. K. Kenrick, S.M. (chairman), F, W. Furket, and J. B. Thompson, and the matters into which it was required to make enquiry included the best method of providing for the control of the Manawatu River and its tributaries so as to safeguard the land affected, and provide for the control of the river and its banks; the desirability of appointing one competent authority to control the whole of the river, and its tributaries; the area which should be included in such district, if constituted; whether additional powers to those contained in the River Board Act should be conferred upon the Board of the proposed district. The Commission reported that the following alternative methods of control appeared to it to be suitable for placing the control of the river entirely outside of local politics; (a) By the gen-’ efal Government taking over the work as being of national importance, carrying out what is necessary, and afterwards administering the works ; (b) by the general Government carrying out the necessary works and their handing over their control and maintenance to local authority; (c) by vesting the whole, or a very largo part of the watershed in a new body to be formed, who would have to carry out the scheme of works laid down by the Government, or alternatively proposed and elaborated by themselves and approved by the Government, this body to afterwards control and maintain the work. The report continues: “The evidence placed'before us satisfies us that there is little or no desire to have any large or extended scheme-launched at the present time, and, further, our observations satisfy us that the position in regard to the river genci’ally does not at. present call for drastic action. The erosions observed by us can be deal with without any radical alteration of the river’s course, and a perusal of the expert evidence accompanying the finding of the Commission' of November, 1914, shows that any such radical' alteration would be detrimental. The evidence proves that the previous Palmerston North-Kai-ranga River Board had entered definitely on a policy of doing no work at all, and the ratepayers elected them with Ibis policy definitely in view. The present Board, elected aboul December last, has a majority in favour of continuing this policy. Any ratepayers who consider thornsolves aggrieved by this policy a? the said Board have now a remedy under the River Boards Amendment: Act, 1917.” THE BOARD’S POLICY.

The Commission therefore recommended as follows: —“That the Palmerston North-Kairanga River Board be not abolished'for the period of six months from the date of publication of this report; this will give time for the Board to change their policy and commence necessary work: or alternatively enable (be ratepayers to proceed under the said Act of 1917. If at the expiration of the said period of six months the Board is still pursuing the policy of inaction ami no steps have been taken by the ratepayers, under the aforesaid Act of 1917, then the Palmerston North-Kairanga River Board should be abolished, and the local bodies whose districts border on the river should attend to the requirements of the river hank protection within their respective districts as provided by statute.” The report continues: “We arc of opinion that the time is not ripe for the appointment of one competent authority to control the whole of the river and its tributaries, for the reasons set out above. When, the time arrives for the appointment of one competent authority to control the whole of the river and its tributaries, the area of which should bo included in such district is, in our opinion, the whole water-shod of the Manawatu River and its tributaries. We are of opinion should one competent authority be appointed later on, as above, it should have conferred upon it the powers contained in the Land Drainage Act, 1908, and its amendments, but subject to.no interference with existing Drainage Boards without their consent, this power being given to it to carry out drainage works incidental to its river works. At the present time we cannot suggest further powers he conferred.

“One matter has been brought under our notice during the taking of evidence which is deserving of notice, viz., in the event of a comprehensive scheme being adopted, the possible conflict of interests between the fiaxrailler and the farmer; the former proving that flooding of their flax lands (now and again) is most beneficial to flax-growing, the reverse being the case with the farm lands. The evidence proves the flax milling industry to be one of considerable importance, employing a large number of men proportionately to the area under flax. This possible conflict of interests would only occur in the lower reaches of the river.” The Assistant Under-Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs, in forwarding a copy of the

report to the Palmerston North Borough Council, stating that the question of abolishing the River Board will be further considered at the expiration of six months.